The global surveillance camera industry is at an inflection point. For over a decade, HiSilicon — Huawei's semiconductor subsidiary — dominated the market, powering an estimated 60-70% of all IP cameras worldwide. But a series of geopolitical events, trade sanctions, and regulatory changes have fundamentally altered the landscape. Today, a new chipset leader is emerging: Qualcomm.
For OEM manufacturers, system integrators, and security consultants, the choice of System-on-Chip (SoC) is no longer just a technical decision — it's a strategic one that affects compliance, supply chain security, and market access. This article explores why Qualcomm SoC is rapidly becoming the preferred platform for Edge AI surveillance cameras, and what this means for the industry.
The HiSilicon Problem: Why the Industry Is Shifting
HiSilicon's dominance in the surveillance chipset market was built on a compelling combination of performance, price, and integration. Their chips powered everything from budget IP cameras to advanced AI-enabled systems. But several factors have converged to undermine this position:
1. US Trade Sanctions and the Entity List
Since 2019, Huawei and its subsidiaries, including HiSilicon, have been placed on the US Entity List. This means American companies cannot supply technology to HiSilicon without a license, effectively cutting off access to advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes. The result has been a gradual decline in HiSilicon's ability to produce cutting-edge chipsets.
2. NDAA Section 889 Compliance
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Section 889 prohibits US government agencies and their contractors from using telecommunications and surveillance equipment from specific Chinese companies, including Huawei (and by extension, HiSilicon-powered cameras). This ban has expanded beyond the US, with similar restrictions being adopted or considered by the UK, EU, Australia, Japan, and other allied nations.
Key Insight: NDAA compliance is no longer just a US government requirement. Many private enterprises, especially those working with government contractors or in critical infrastructure, are proactively adopting NDAA-compliant equipment to avoid future regulatory risk.
3. Supply Chain Vulnerability
The sanctions have created significant supply chain uncertainty for HiSilicon-based products. Manufacturers relying on HiSilicon chips face the risk of supply disruptions, inability to source replacement parts, and potential future restrictions that could render their products non-compliant in key markets.
Enter Qualcomm: The New Standard for Edge AI Surveillance
Qualcomm, the San Diego-based semiconductor giant known for powering the world's smartphones, has been making aggressive moves into the IoT and surveillance camera market. Their SoC platforms bring several transformative advantages:
Dedicated Neural Processing Units (NPUs)
Qualcomm's latest SoCs include dedicated AI accelerators — Neural Processing Units (NPUs) — specifically designed for machine learning inference. For surveillance cameras, this means:
- Real-time face recognition processed entirely on-device
- Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) at speeds up to 200 km/h
- Object detection and classification with 95%+ accuracy
- People counting and heat mapping for retail and smart city applications
- Intrusion detection and perimeter security with minimal false alarms
All of this happens at the edge — on the camera itself — without requiring expensive cloud processing or high-bandwidth network connections.
Power Efficiency
Qualcomm's mobile heritage gives them a significant advantage in power-efficient computing. Their SoCs are designed to deliver maximum AI performance per watt, which translates to cameras that run cooler, last longer, and can be deployed in power-constrained environments like solar-powered installations or remote locations.
Long-Term Platform Support
Unlike HiSilicon, which faces an uncertain future due to sanctions, Qualcomm provides a clear chipset roadmap with guaranteed long-term support. This includes regular firmware updates, security patches, and a commitment to backward compatibility — critical factors for surveillance deployments that are expected to operate for 5-10+ years.
Qualcomm SoC vs. HiSilicon: Head-to-Head Comparison
| Criterion | Qualcomm SoC | HiSilicon |
|---|---|---|
| NDAA Compliance | ✓ Fully Compliant | ✗ Non-Compliant |
| Sanction Risk | ✓ None | ✗ US Entity List |
| AI Processing (NPU) | ✓ Dedicated NPU | Limited AI acceleration |
| Supply Chain Security | ✓ Stable, global | ✗ Disrupted |
| Long-Term Support | ✓ Guaranteed roadmap | ✗ Uncertain future |
| Government Market Access | ✓ Global | ✗ Restricted |
What This Means for OEM/ODM Partners
For companies looking to manufacture or white-label surveillance cameras, the shift to Qualcomm SoC opens up significant opportunities:
Access to Government and Enterprise Markets
With Qualcomm-based cameras, OEM partners can confidently bid on government contracts, defense projects, and critical infrastructure deployments worldwide. The NDAA compliance and sanction-free supply chain removes the single biggest barrier to entry in these high-value markets.
Differentiation from Chinese OEMs
The vast majority of Chinese camera manufacturers still rely on HiSilicon chipsets. By offering Qualcomm-powered alternatives, OEM partners can differentiate their products in a crowded market and command premium pricing.
Future-Proof Technology
Qualcomm's ongoing investment in AI, 5G, and IoT ensures that cameras built on their platform today will continue to receive performance improvements and new capabilities through software updates.
Adiance: Leading the Qualcomm-Powered Camera Revolution
At Adiance, we recognized the strategic importance of the Qualcomm platform early. Our S-Series Edge AI cameras are built on Qualcomm SoC technology, delivering the industry's most advanced on-device AI capabilities in a fully customizable OEM/ODM platform.
With 20+ years of manufacturing experience, end-to-end in-house capabilities, and a complete surveillance ecosystem (cameras, VMS, NVRs, mobile apps), Adiance provides OEM partners with everything they need to bring Qualcomm-powered AI cameras to market under their own brand.
The Bottom Line: The surveillance industry's chipset landscape is shifting permanently. Qualcomm SoC offers the best combination of AI performance, compliance, supply chain security, and long-term viability. For OEM manufacturers and system integrators, the time to make the switch is now.
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